Gov. Walz announces over $20M for economic development in Minnesota

ST. PAU, Minn. (KTTC) – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced Tuesday over $20 million in funding for small cities, townships, and counties in Minnesota.

According to the announcement, the Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) grants will be used for infrastructure and rehabilitation projects in 34 Minnesota cities, townships, and counties.

“From St. Peter to Swanville, Minnesota does better when all of our neighborhoods are thriving,” Governor Walz said. “These grants are going directly to smaller communities to help with infrastructure projects and keep our cities growing and thriving. We are working to make Minnesota the best state to live, work, and raise a family – no matter where you live.”

SCDP grants will be administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development and are part of the Community Development Block Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The grants are administered by DEED’s Small Cities Development Program Unit.

“This is really a phenomenal program to help small cities in Greater Minnesota grow,” DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said. “By driving over $20 million to infrastructure growth in the rural areas of our state, we’re backing up our belief that you can live anywhere in Minnesota and have an extraordinary quality of life – and a positive economic outlook.”

Cities and townships with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000 can apply for SCDP grants. Eligible projects must meet one of three objectives: benefit people of low and moderate incomes; eliminate slum and blighted conditions; or eliminate an urgent threat to public health or safety.

You can find out more about SCDP grants on the DEED website.

These SCDP awards total $20,820,999 for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, rental rehabilitation, commercial rehabilitation, public facility improvement projects, community centers and streetscape projects.

The following cities received SCDP grants in this funding award:

City of Ada, $506,000 - Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
City of Balaton, $599,955 - Owner-occupied housing and rental rehabilitation
City of Bellechester, $600,000 - Public facility improvements
City of Cannon Falls, $591,675 - Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
City of Cass Lake, $345,000 - Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
City of Cloquet, $483,649 - Public facility improvements
City of Dalton, $600,000 - Public facility improvements
City of Danube, $600,000 - Public facility improvements
City of Harmony, $1,017,750 - Owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
City of Harris, $600,000 - Public facility improvements
City of Hendricks/Garvin, $1,198,325 - Owner-occupied housing, rental rehabilitation and public facility improvements
City of Jackson, $1,035,000 - Owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
City of Karlstad $507,380 - Owner-occupied housing and rental rehabilitation
City of Kiester, $600,000 - Public facility improvements
City of Mahnomen, $600,000 - Public facility improvements
City of Maynard, $115,000 - Rental rehabilitation
City of Mazeppa, $595,125 - Owner-occupied housing and rental rehabilitation
City of Mountain Lake, $759,000 - Owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
City of Newfolden, $880,900 - Owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
City of Ortonville, $782,000 - Owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
City of Princeton, $600,000 - Public facility improvements
City of Rollingstone/Altura, $581,900 - Owner-occupied housing and rental rehabilitation
City of Roosevelt, $132,250 - Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
City of St. Peter, $575,000 - Rental rehabilitation
City of Sanborn, $600,000 - Public facility improvements
City of Sandstone, $517,500 - Owner-occupied housing and commercial rehabilitation
City of Sebeka, $609,500 - Owner-occupied housing, rental and commercial rehabilitation
City of Slayton, $737,840 - Owner-occupied housing, rental and commercial rehabilitation
City of Strandquist, $253,000 - Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
City of Swanville, $546,250 - Owner-occupied housing, rental and commercial rehabilitation
City of Swanville, $600,000 - Public facility improvements
City of Taconite, $600,000 - Public facility improvements
City of Thief River Falls, $600,000 - Rental rehabilitation
Roseau County, $563,500 - Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation
Twin Lakes Township, $287,500 - Owner-occupied housing rehabilitation